Saudi Arabia pledges $27mn in aid to Gaza

"This amount will go towards easing the medical crisis and treating the wounded amid Israel's continued bombardment of the Palestinian people of Gaza," Saudi Health Minister Adel Fakieh was quoted as saying.

Saudi Health Minister Adel Fakieh reportedly pointed out that the aid pledge comes two weeks after King Abdullah ordered the transfer of 200 million Saudi riyals (roughly $53.3 million) to the Palestinian Red Crescent agency to provide emergency medical supplies to Gaza's hospitals.

Since Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip began on July 7, at least 828 Palestinians  mostly civilians  have been killed, according to the latest Palestinian Health Ministry figures.

At least 5300 Gazans have been injured, meanwhile, many critically, according to the reports.

For the last 19 days, Israel has pummeled the coastal territory  from air, land and sea  with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.

One week ago, Israel expanded its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

According to official Israeli figures, 35 Israelis  33 soldiers and two civilians  have been killed since hostilities began.

Israel's operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip, which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, within the last six years.

In 2008/09, over 1500 Palestinians were killed  the vast majority of them civilians  during Israel's three-week-long "Operation Cast Lead."